Essex County Lawmakers Cheer, Boo For NJ Budget

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — New Jersey’s latest state budget got cheers from several Democratic lawmakers in Essex County – and heavy criticism from some of their Republican peers.

Gov. Phil Murphy signed the fiscal year 2025 Appropriations Act into law on Friday. The $56.7 billion budget will have some big impacts on people and businesses across the Garden State, including taxes, education and transportation. See Related: Murphy Greenlights $56B New Jersey Budget (See The Breakdown)

Several Democratic lawmakers from Essex County who are members of their chamber’s budget committee said the latest spending plan is a win for New Jersey.

“The state spending plan for the year ahead showcases our unwavering commitment to making the lives of New Jersey families more affordable through investments in the ANCHOR program and education while supporting our local economies,” said Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin (NJ-29), chair of the Assembly budget committee.

“The most significant reductions in state spending in at least a decade has allowed us to invest in key areas such as school funding, higher education, health care and property tax relief, which are all so important to our constituents,” said the assemblywoman, who represents Newark in Essex County, among other municipalities.

“This budget is not just about balancing books – it's about balancing the scales of opportunity and equity for all New Jerseyans,” she added.

Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (NJ-29) also lent her support, calling the budget a “holistic plan that puts the well-being of our children and families first.”

“We are making huge investments in education for our youngest and oldest students by continuing on the path toward universal pre-K, fully financing the school funding formula, launching a student literacy initiative, and investing in higher education,” Ruiz said.

“We are putting money towards vital mental and physical health programs that save lives,” she continued. “Expanding the Universal Newborn Home Nurse Visitation Program will give thousands more new mothers an invaluable resource that will help improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Funding for mental health services for children and adolescents will put us in the best position to combat one of the biggest health crises we face.”

“The budget signed [Friday] makes lasting, equitable investments in our communities and I look forward to seeing its impact,” Ruiz said.

Sen. Renee Burgess (NJ-28) said the budget includes $2 million to help facilitate the ongoing merger between Bloomfield College and Montclair State University. Read More: Montclair State, Bloomfield College Merger Finalized (What To Know)

“I was glad to push for this extra funding for the merger, which is a one-of-a-kind, forward- looking higher education initiative that is both novel in approach and vitally important to both schools,” Burgess said. “I’m especially proud to help carry on Bloomfield’s unique mission and its long tradition of educating our minority students.”

The senator also supported a controversial new tax on some of the wealthiest corporations in the state, which will be used to fund NJ Transit. Read More: Tax Corporations, Fund Trains; Shoving Match Intensifies In New Jersey

“I am also glad to see in this budget a revenue source dedicated to funding NJ Transit, which will help to power our economy, keep our trains and buses running and make sure that working class people in our state – and particularly those who live in Essex County – can get to and from their jobs on time,” Burgess said.

The 28th District includes Irvington, Maplewood, Newark and South Orange in Essex County.

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Assemblyman Al Barlas (NJ-40), who serves as chair of the Essex County Republican Committee, had a different take on this year’s budget, however – and it wasn’t a good one.

Barlas wrote:

“The Democratic majority says budgets are a reflection of who we are and what we care about … a budget that raises taxes and fees … a budget that cuts school aid to over 100 districts … a budget that cuts $1 million for adoption services … a budget that built in hundreds of pork barrel projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars … a budget that also cuts $99,000 (not a typo, ninety-nine thousand dollars) for domestic violence services.”

“If budgets are in fact a reflection of who we are and what we care about — then I proudly voted no because I don’t believe this budget reflects who we are or the things we care about,” the assemblyman concluded.

The 40th District encompasses several towns in Essex, Bergen and Passaic counties, including Caldwell, Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, Verona and West Caldwell.

Barlas wasn’t the only Republican with Essex County ties to criticize the budget.

Sen. Kristin Corrado, also from the state’s 40th District, said it was easy for her to vote no on the spending plan, writing that the state budget has grown by a “staggering” 60 percent since Murphy assumed office.

“This budget lacked transparency and saw cuts to school districts, slashed municipal aid, imposed new taxes and fees, canceled the sales tax holiday for parents and teachers, and included pork projects like building a tiki bar at a yacht club,” she added.

Despite opposition from legislators like Barlas and Corrado, the budget passed votes in the Senate and Assembly last week, gaining support from lawmakers including Sen. John McKeon (NJ-27), who represents Livingston, Millburn, Montclair, Roseland and West Orange in Essex County.

McKeon said he supports the new corporate transit tax that will fund NJ Transit. He also highlighted more than $100 million for new parks and recreation areas, and funding to upgrade the state’s grid infrastructure and boost “clean energy.”

“The budget we passed today puts us on a path to guarantee New Jersey’s success both now and in the years to come and carefully considers sustainability and environmental protection in doing so,” McKeon said.

Other members of the Senate and Assembly budget committees for the 2024-2025 Legislative Session include Michael Venezia, a Democrat who represents the state’s 34th District (Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Nutley and Orange).

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